The Heart Of Alchemy
Chapter 1: General Stone
A/N: This is my first FMA fanfic. So yeah general disclaimers are that I don't own the characters...cause I'm poor... The only thing I claim is Chayim and that whole group of subordinates.
Oh! And this is your warning...there will be YAOI though light and slow in coming so take that into consideration.
Human kind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is the first Law of Equivalent Exchange and it is infallible. It is what gives humans their limits; you can only make what you can give. However, there is a legend of something that will allow such limitations to be overcome. It is called the Philosopher's Stone, a stone that has the innate ability to negate the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Many fakes have been made and countless lives lost in the attempt to gain the power inside. But the Philosopher's Stone is well hidden, almost impossible to find…or that's what we had been assured of. For if it wasn't well hidden, Alchemy would be unstoppable.
Alchemy is utterly complex yet simple in principle. Alchemy is a science in which you break an object into its base elements. These elements can be broken down further into four basic elements. These four elements are the basis of not only alchemy, but the entire world. Water, ever flowing and universal. Fire, burns the world apart in order to renew the life cycle. Earth, the foundation of the world around us. Air, necessary for life it balances the world. These four elements are always in balance. You cannot have one without the others. If a person was to arbitrarily change these elements the world would fail to work and fall apart. That is why humans were given a heart.
Their heart, and the emotions that it feels, are meant to temper us. To stop us from destroying the world around us through our own god-like tendencies. By this train of thought, our hearts are in balance with the world around us and therefore an essential fifth element. However, as if to contradict such a revelation, we as a race often do things that throw the balance of the other four and cause havoc. Because while our heart balances our ambitions a growing number of people seem to be able to overcome such an innate control. More and more people are becoming heartless. And those who base their work on the hearts of others are left with the pain it causes…
If someone was to overcome their heart and to also gain possession of the Philosopher's Stone…that person would be an unstoppable tyrant, under no restrictions and free to do whatever they should wish. No matter how depraved or terrible their wishes may be the world would lay at the mercy of their ice riddled heart…
"General Sir, are you alright?"
A bright red eye opened slowly from under the nest-like swirl of covers. The thick velvet drapes around the bed cut out the light, leaving only a thin line from where the soldier was looking through at his superior. The red eye closed as its owner groaned. "Get out Maverick."
"But Sir, you don't look so good." He said kneeling next to the large bed to peer at the barely visible mop of chocolaty hair that pooled out from under a pile of comforters. A thin, olive tinted, hand lay on top of the pillow weakly. "Should I call the doctor, Sir?"
"No." The General said not moving. "Just get out so I can get dre-" The voice broke into a hacking cough. The figure under the covers curled up as the coughing continued.
"Sir!" Maverick cried throwing the curtains wider as he put a hand to the shaking shoulder. After a few minutes the coughing subsided and a pained sigh took its place. "Sir…are you sure you're alright?"
"Get me my pills Maverick…and some water…" The General ordered, still sounding pained.
Maverick nodded. "Right away, Sir." He said hurrying off to do what he was ordered. Not long after he returned with the items and a military doctor in tow. "Here, Sir." He said holding a glass of water out to the hidden figure.
Finally the General sat up, coughing a few more times before taking the offered glass. The General was very young looking, one would only guess the age around 15 maybe younger. A fine, almost elfin, face that made it impossible to tell if the officer was a boy or a girl. Often mistaken for a teenage Ishbalen the General took the pills without question. "I didn't say bring a doctor, Maverick."
"I know, Sir but you sounded so bad I called Doc anyway."
"I should have you court marshaled." The superior officer muttered.
The Doctor scoffed. "You'll be doing no such thing, Chayim. Go on Maverick. I'll take care of General Mule here." The older man said waving towards the door before rummaging through his bag.
"I'm not a mule." Chayim muttered as Maverick saluted then left. "Besides…I'm fine, Doc."
"If you were fine you wouldn't be coughing up blood all the time." Doc said putting a stethoscope in his ears, the flat head pressed against the heated skin of Chayim's back, not bothering to lift the shirt up. "Now take a breath." Chayim rolled his eyes but did as he was told. He had barely inflated his lungs when he broke into another round of coughs. "See? You aren't alright at all. You're staying in bed today."
"Can't." Chayim replied simply, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. "The Furor wants the inspection done today." He said swinging his legs out of the bed and standing up on slightly unstable legs.
"You're barely able to stand, Chayim. You can't physically do it." Doc protested as Chayim headed towards the bathroom that attached to the bedroom.
"I can and will." Chayim said.
Doc threw his arms into the air in defeat. "Fine you crazy little-Gah! Don't blame me if you collapse!"
"I won't then." Chayim replied from the bathroom.
"We have a problem!" Hughes cried bursting through the door to Mustang's set of offices. Strangely enough everyone was there, including Edward and Alfonse (who had just returned from yet another dead end in search for the Philosopher's Stone).
"A problem? What kind of problem?" Mustang asked raising an eyebrow at his slightly eccentric friend.
"A surprise inspection! Conducted by General Stone himself!" Hughes said tears streaming down his face, hands twitching in front of him.
Mustang's eyes widened a fraction. "What's he looking for?!"
"Officially? It's just routine but I hear he's got his nose to the ground for illegal use of Alchemy in the military." Hughes said, glancing over to where the Elric brothers were standing. "If he see's Al here…"
"Who the hell's this Stone guy anyway?" Ed demanded, stepping in front of his brother who was looking at the floor silently.
"General Stone is a highly capable Alchemist. They call him The Prodigal Alchemist. He was the golden boy of the military for a long time before you came in, Ed. He just wasn't as young as you when he entered the military due to family issues I believe." Hughes explained.
"That doesn't matter now. Alfonse you need to-" Before Mustang could finish the sentence the door opened. A man with black hair in the routine military cut and dark navy eyes walked in and saluted Mustang. "Lieutenant Major Maverick." Mustang greeted with a similar salute.
"General Stone isn't feeling too well today so we're going to try and keep this quick if that's alright, Colonel Mustang." He said.
"Of course." Mustang said with a good-natured smirk. 'Maybe this wouldn't be too bad after all…'
A minute later the sound of military grade heeled boots echoed down the hall. The door opened revealing the short officer. His long dark hair was tied up in a messy ponytail placed high on the back of his head; the base was tied with a bandage. His olive skin was paler than seemed healthy and his red eyes had dark circles around them. His uniform was even slightly wrinkled. Everyone saluted automatically. "General."
"At ease." He said walking into the room fully. His red eyes scanned over the room, giving off a feeling that he knew far more than what he was showing. Those strange, Ishbalen-like eyes didn't miss a thing. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, Hughes…"
Hughes laughed a little, rubbing the back of his head. "Well you know me! I just got this adorable new picture of Elishia and I just had to show everyone! Would you like to see it?" He asked pulling it from his pocket instantly.
"No thank you Hughes…I have a job to do." Stone said simply, ignoring the picture wielding man. With a sigh Stone made his way to the clump of people that had subtly moved to try (and was utterly failing) and shield the seven foot armor in the corner. He stood in front of the group and raised an eyebrow.
Reluctantly all but Edward moved out of the way. The two of them stood there looking at each other…or Stone was looking, Ed was glaring. Suddenly Mustang burst out laughing. "Looks like you finally sound someone shorter than you, Fullmetal!" It took a second but slowly the room all formed an imaginary dotted line between the two alchemists. Edward was almost two inches taller than the General.
Leave it to Ed not to notice that however…"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT ENOUGH TO-?!" Ed screamed. Suddenly, before his rant on things that weren't said could continue a slender finger pressed to his lips, keeping his mouth closed lightly but firmly.
"Now that's just unnecessary. You should learn how to control that temper, Fullmetal." Stone said, pushing the blonde back down to the flat of his feet with the finger over his mouth. "Now…please move." He ordered taking his finger back. Ed barely caught a glance of a transmutation circle tattooed to the inside of Stone's left wrist, but as soon as he caught sight of it, the blue sleeve of the uniform and the white gloves moved to cover it back up.
Ed frowned but didn't move out of the way. He wasn't going to let his brother be turned into some sort of experiment. Suddenly a heavy hand fell on his shoulder. Ed looked back and saw Al was the cause. "It's okay brother."
"But…Al…" Before Ed could protest anymore Alfonse stepped out from behind him.
Stone nodded, stepping closer to examine the armor better. After a few minutes he reached out and opened the front panel. The room was utterly tense as the General continued to examine the empty suit of armor. Finally he stepped back, closing the front panel as he did so. "A very solid soul binding, Fullmetal. Impressive. Especially considering you did it so quickly." Stone said turning away from Al to continue walking around the room.
Nearly the whole room turned to glare at Hughes. Stone hadn't done anything at all! Hughes gave a nervous laugh. "Well I'll just be going, since you don't need me around!" Within a second he had bolted.
Stone blinked after him. "What got into him?"
"You know Hughes, Sir." Maverick said with a shrug.
Stone gave dry laugh. "Yes, well let's continue shall we?" He turned to Mustang. "I'll need copies of your files, Mustang. Everything from Alchemy to Zeppelin. Maverick he-" Stone broke into another round of hacking coughs, doubling over with the force of it.
"Sir! You're not well! Let me take you to your room!" Maverick was at Stone's side instantly. After a minute the shorter man waved his subordinate away and straightened. Stone wiped his mouth, carefully pocketing his gloved hand as soon as he did.
Stone cleared his throat "Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yes. Maverick will collect the files and bring them to my office. I'd stay longer, but as you saw I'm not in the best condition today. I'll be in touch. Good day." He said heading towards the door.
As soon as the door closed they heard more coughing that quickly disappeared. Maverick stuck his tongue out at the now closed door. "Mule!" He hissed. Suddenly he seemed to remember the others in the room. He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "The General never takes care of himself." He explained. "We told him he shouldn't have come in the first place."
"What's wrong with him?" Al asked sounding worried.
Maverick shrugged. "No idea. I asked him once and got a head-ache for an answer."
"What do you mean?" Ed asked raising an eyebrow.
"Ah…He started rambling about equations and red water and this that and the other. I thought my head was gonna explode…" Maverick explained with a sound of pain at the memory. "Sooo I don't ask General anymore questions. I just smile and nod. Now if you'll be so kind as to direct me to your files I'll get out of here as quickly as possible. Before he decides to turn me into a newt or something crazy…"
Edward scoffed "That's human alchemy."
"You act like he cares…" Maverick said dully.
"Are you always this stubborn or is that only when you're decaying from the inside out?" Doc asked grabbing Chayim's thin wrist to take his pulse, which was more difficult than he would have thought to do.
"Gee thanks…" Chayim croaked his heavy eyelids closed over his tired eyes.
"Well how else do you describe it? If I didn't know any better I'd say you were dying." Doc said dropping his wrist to the bed before packing his things.
Chayim gave a little chuckle. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you cared…"
Doc froze in his packing. "I care, Sir. You're not just my superior you know. I consider you a friend…a very annoying, highly frustrating friend but a friend none the less."
Chayim opened his eyes and looked at him with an indiscernible look. It was like those ruby eyes were trying to pierce his soul. "Don't be my friend, Doc. All my friends die. And I'm all that's left. I've seen enough death. You just focus on the living."
"Well you're alive aren't you? At the moment I'll focus on you." Doc said tracing a pulsing vein in Chayim's hand.
"Samuel…Go home to your wife. I'm sure she'd love to see you. I always keep you here with my health problems…I don't think you even have any other patients anymore. Go home Sam." Chayim ordered pulling his hand away and tucking it under the covers.
"But Chayim I-!"
"No. Don't you dare finish that sentence, Sam." Chayim brought his hand back up to cradle the Sam's cheek. "You are still so young…you see me and think what you feel is love…but really it is but a shadow of what it could be. You have seen my body…all of its flaws; you will not be satisfied when you realize I don't have what you need." Chayim let his hand fall closing his eyes against the bone weariness that beat at him.
"Do you think me that shallow?!" Sam demanded angrily.
"Tell me Sam…whom do you think you love? The man?" Chayim asked opening his eyes to look straight into Sam's. "Or is it my female parts that make you think such thoughts? Which would you call me? Your wife? Or your husband?"
Sam swallowed before answering. "I know it's hard on you, Chayim…not having a group to call your own. But I don't care! So you're a hermaphrodite! Who cares?! I don't, Chayim, I won't ever!"
Chayim smiled weakly. "Who are you trying so hard to convince, Sam? Me? Or yourself?" Sam was shocked to silence. Chayim settled into the bed again. "Go to your wife, Sam. She's good for you. And tomorrow if you would be so good as to file a request for patient transfer, I would appreciate it. Thank you for your services, Doctor." Chayim closed his tired red eyes again, dismissing the Doctor without another glance.
"Why do you keep pushing people away? You're going to die alone if you keep doing this, Chayim!" Sam said angrily.
Chayim sighed but didn't open his eyes. "I will not get into this argument. Not again. You are dismissed, Doctor." He ordered rolling over to face the other side of the bed.
"Fine. But don't come running to me later on!" He hissed as he stormed out of the room. Chayim flinched slightly when the door slammed after the doctor. The General sighed and curled up more under the blankets. 'I suppose I'll have to be more careful with my actions…' he thought.